The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-04
THE COKE STRIKE.
It 10 Declared Illegal BY the knights of In.
bor Executive board.

PITHluRaH, June S.-Ths Report Of A.
A. Carlton and William H, Bailey, Of the
Grand Executive Board 81 the knights Of
Labor, who were sent here to investigate
the coke strike, has been completed, II
was cent to the headquarters at Philadel.
phlR last night. The report reflects credi,
tably upon the two members OF the Board
who were specially assigned to decide
whether the strike should be declared
Just OF illegal,
They made q thorough study Of the
case % viewed from both sides before they
drew up their hnal conclusions, Their
decision is that the Bhike Ia illegal, and
while they do not aummRTily order the
men back to work, they recommend that
such ahall bs their coafas.
The report RH sent to the General Ex,
eoutye Board contains among other things
the following; Upon examination Of evi.
denGe and Arguments we find that thee case
was not presented precisely ss our mem.
bera (lrom their statement 10 us) seem to
understand. Indeed the representatives
OF tile employees Themselves opened the
door through which the umpire passed by
'pfeAAnting an Argument covering the
ground from December, 1885, reviewing
the industry and wagea down to the prea'
ent and denied consideration Of the same,
thus, In effect, setting aside themselves
the agreement Of December "a, 1885, and
aHording the umpire the opportunity 10
take the poaltion he did. While our mem.
beTa may, and probably do, sincerely be.
lieYe the only question was % they slated
to us, yet the argument OF their represent.
atiya upon that arbitration board did
really present the subject as claimed by
the umpire, and upon which his deClaion
was rendered.
Had the representatives oi the EN-.
ployes Contented themselves with q aim.
pie presentation Of the question ,Rs seema
to be understood by their constituents,
there 10 no doubt that an advance would
have been obtained. The motiveof those
who had charge Of the case is not called
In question by this report in the least, and
no doubt they made every effort for their
side which their judgment dictated. The
presentation was faulty, but its effects |
possibly could not have been foreseen. Be |
that as It may, itopened the question not
intended by at least our members and
upon said question represented was based |
the verdict.
In view oil these facts we are OF the
opinion that under the circumstances |
there 10 no other course but to accept the
decision as rendered, return to work, and
at the proper time under proper methods,
either move reopening Of the case on q |
probable Misunderstanding, or present an |
entirely new one. We therefore advise ]
this acceptance"
No further move will be taken by the
General Executive Board for the present.
They expect their members who arc on o
strike TO return TO work at once IS re.
quested. II this ia not done then the
strikers will be placing themselves in the |
same position as the Carpet Weavers' As
senbly No. l26, which has been recently
suspended. The coke Atrikers will be lia. |
blet to similar suspension II they con.
tinue on the strike. On the other hand,
II the men return to work, 40 they are ex.
pected to do, the knights Of Labor general
will give them fair hearing on whatever
grievances they may present aside from
the decision Of Umpire JaCkSon.
Mr.. Carlton, In speaking this morning
OF the report said: mo matter what mis-. |
understanding occurs, 1t is necessary to |
maintain the principles Of arbitration.
The most Of the trouble has occurred from
men brought up Ho!ely as trades unionists,
who are not as favorable to the principles |
Of arbitration Rs are we. We have been |
assured that as work is resumed that we |
can arrange for o conference"
Mr.. Carlton had his report ready to
send to Philadelphia two days ago. he
hold II, however, until alter the confer.
ence between the strikers' Joint Commit
tee and the Syndicate yesterday.
The operators are we'll satisfied with the
deCislon. They say that II could not have
been otherwise in justness, and that 1t Is |
the course that they all along expected
the General Executive Board Of the
Knights OF Labor to pursue. They Say
that the decision renews their faith In the
assertion Of the leaders OF the order that
their cardina! principle is arbitration.